Munson retiring from Key Opportunities after 37 years

Friday

Feb 8, 2013 at 10:18 AMFeb 8, 2013 at 10:18 AM

By Matt Durr

matt.durr@hillsdale.netHILLSDALE — Kay Heath has been a board member for Key Opportunities for the past six years, and when asked about the impending retirement of Key’s Executive Director Jane Munson she doesn’t hesitate in her response.“She’s an institution,” Heath said. “She’s just one of those people that when you get to know her and you see what she does, she just stands out. She has been so dedicated for so long.”After 37 years with Key, Munson is scheduled to retire next week, highlighted by an open house next Friday at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hillsdale. During her time with Key, Munson has overseen the growth of the company and installed many of it’s primary programs.More importantly than that, Munson has helped thousands of people who have may not had a chance to work otherwise,“It’s extremely rewarding. Helping them to learn skills and to be able to talk with other people about those skills... it’s heartwarming to see,” Munson said.Key Opportunities is a community based work center that helps people with disabilities perform jobs and receive a paycheck while doing so. The employees do tasks such as separating parts based on the types of plastic so they can be reused. They also perform confidential document shredding for doctors, lawyers, businesses and private individuals. Because many of the workers cannot read, the confidentiality is insured and the worker is compensated for their efforts.Some workers don’t work directly in the warehouse and perform jobs that fit their skills for businesses and industries.“They’re really proud of their paychecks,” Munson said.When Munson started working with Key, there were 17 workers they helped and it was a program run by the Intermediate School District, Currently the program is helping put nearly 100 people to work in a variety of jobs.The program also offers job-access transportation to any resident who needs help getting a ride to their job as long as they help pay for the cost of the ride. That service is available 24 hours a day.Julie Boyce has been training alongside Munson in preparation for taking over the duties as executive director and while things have run smoothly, Boyce admits she has some big shoes to fill.“There are a lot of facets involved that go into making sure everything runs smoothly,” Boyce said. “Jane’s done a wonderful job in every aspect and I hope I can do just as well. “She’s had a huge impact on Key, but on the community of Hillsdale as a whole.”Munson said now was the perfect time for her to retire because she still has her health and has many things in her life she wants to devote some time to. Aside from spending more time with her family, Munson said she plans on adding to impressive traveling resume, that includes trips to Peru and South Africa.She also plans on continuing her efforts in church, along with her clogging and gardening around her home. Munson said she will still help with Key in whatever capacity she can, but thinks it’ll be good for the company to be infused with some new blood.Still, there are some things about the job she will miss.“The personal contact with the staff, with other professionals and the people. I know that I will miss all of the wonderful people I’ve got to work with,” Munson said. “It’s really been a wonderful 37 years, It’s hard to believe it’s been 37 years. It has been a wonderful place to work.”The open house to thank and celebrate Munson’s time with Key begins at 3 p.m. on Friday Feb. 15 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church on Bacon Street in Hillsdale. The event is open to the public and light refreshments will be served.